Which transfer aid is a wooden board used to help transfer people who are unable to bear weight on their legs?

• A. Hand Rolls and Splints
• B. Slide Board
• C. Gait Belt
• D. Mechanical Lift

Answer: (B)

When moving a person who cannot bear weight on the legs, the goal is to minimize lifting and reduce friction during the transfer. A slide board fits this need because it provides a smooth, rigid surface that bridges the gap between two surfaces (for example, bed and wheelchair). The patient sits at the edge, places the board between the surfaces, and uses his or her arms to slide the hips across the board to the destination while the caregiver stabilizes and guides. This method lets a transfer occur with less strain on both the patient and the caregiver compared with lifting.

Other aids serve different purposes: hand rolls and splints are for positioning and comfort of the hands, not transfers; a gait belt helps with standing and pivoting when some weight-bearing is possible; a mechanical lift is used when the patient cannot participate at all and requires powered lifting. The wooden board transfer is the best fit for moving someone who can’t bear weight on the legs but can participate to some degree by using the arms to slide.